Removable radiator shield



June 14, 1932. H, KELLO G 1,862,684

REMOVABLE RADIATOR SHIELD Filed Aug. 10, 1951 wiwmw W Patented June 14,1932 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFHQE HOMER G. KELLOGG, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN,ASSIGNOR TO MOTOR PRODUCTS; CORPO- RATION, OI DETROIT, 'MICHIGAN, ACORPORATION OF NEW/V YORK REMOVABLE RADIATOR SHIEILD Application filedAugust 10, 1931 Serial No. 556,261.

This invention relates to radiator shields or guards for automobileradiators and more especially to a removable shield or guard which maybe readily attached or detached.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a simpleand durable shield construction which may be economically manufacturedand assembled in quantity production.

In accordance with the present invention I provide a shield having amarginal frame capable of snap-on connection with the inner periphery ofa radiator shell so that the shields or guards may be, if desired,manufactured and sold as an accessory for attachment to the radiators ofvehicles already in use or if standard equipment, may be removed in thewinter to enable the customary shutter or weather fronts to be assembledwith the radiator.

The several objects, advantages and novel details of construction ofthis invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds,especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing,wherein,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational View of a portion of aradiator with my improved shield or guard associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View through the radiatorshell, the section being taken substantially on the plan indicated byline 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view takensubstantially on the plane indicated by line 33 in Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of a portion of theshield or guard.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like referencecharacters indicate like parts, it will be noted that there isillustrated a radiator shell 10, the core of the radiator being omitted,however, for the purpose of clearness, the front portion 11 of theradiator shell having its inner periphery bent to form a shallowreturn-bent portion 12, this portion acting, as will be made moreapparent hereinafter, as an anchorage means for the shield or guardwhich is adapted for a substantial snap-on engagement therewith. Theshield or guard comprises a marginal frame or border indicated generallyby the reference character 13, the body of the shield being formed ofheavy wire mesh or other similar material 14.

I In assembling the frame 13 with the body 14 of the shield theperipheral portion 15 of the frame is bent inwardly to grip the edge 14of the body between the portion 15 and a shoulder portion 16 formed inthe frame.

The frame is provided with a laterally eX- tending shallow return-bentportion 17 arranged substantially throughout the periphcry of theshield, this return-bent portion 17 being adapted for engagement withthe return-bent portion 12 of the shield for re movably securing theshield in place on the radiator shell.

Obviously the frame 13 will be shaped to coincide with the innerperipheral configuration of the shell so that when the shield is securedin place the shell and shield will be rigidly connected together toprevent rattling of the shield or accidental displacement thereof.

However, in quantity production it would be inexpedient to accuratelyshape the shield frame at the corners thereof and principally for thisreason the attaching flange 17 of the frame 18 is cut away at thecorners as indica'ted most clearly in Figure 4 at 18.

The frame 13 is preferably splittransversely thereof as indicated at 19at the center of the lower side thereof for a purpose which willpresently appear.

In assembling the shield with the radia tor shell, the upper end of theshield is engaged with the shell substantially midway of the latterwhere the distance between the sides of the shell (which upwardlyconverge) is slightly greater than the width of the shield. In thismanner the attaching flange 17 may be engaged with the anchorage flange12 of the shell whereupon the shield is slid upwardly until the topframe portion engages the upper inner peripheral edge of the shell.During this movement the attaching flanges 17 at the sides of the shieldare caused to engage with the anchorage flanges 12 throughout the entireside portions of the shell and subsequently the lower split sections ofthe shield frame are snapped into engagement with the anchorage flangeat the lower side of the radiator shell. By reason of the splitconstruction of the shield frame at the bottom, the attaching flanges 17are first engaged at the outer ends thereof, or in other words at theends adjacent the lower corners of the shield, and the two split lowerframe sections are then snapped into position by a lateral inwardpressure thereon. The flexibility of the material of the body of theshield permits the material to bow slightly during this assemblingoperation as will be obvious.

hen the lower frame sections have been snapped into place, verticalendwise movement of the shield is prevented because both the upper andlower frame portions of the shield tightly engage the upper and lowerinner peripheral edges of the shell.

In removing the shield from the shell, the lower split sections of theframe 13 are pried up, the body 14 of the shield bowing slightly topermit this, whereupon the lower ends of the sides of the frame 13 maybe forced from engagement with the side anchorage flanges 12 whereuponthe shield may he slid downwardly a suflicient distance so that it maysubsequently be lifted from enga ement with the shell.

abvious modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in thisart and to this end reservation is made to make such changes as may comewithin the purview of the accompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In combination, a radiator shell having a flange on its innerperiphery, and a shield having a frame provided with attaching flangesadapted for detachable engagement with the flange of said shell.

2. The combination with a radiator shell, of a shield of the classdescribed including a body portion and a peripheral frame, said framehaving a bent portion gripping the edge of the body and flanges adaptedfor detachable engagement with the radiator shell.

3. In combination, a radiator shell having a return-bent innerperipheral flange constituting an anchorage flange, and a shield havinga frame provided with laterally extending return-bent flanges adaptedfor snap-on engagement with the flange of said shell.

4. In combination, a radiator shell having an inner peripheral flange,and a shield having a frame provided with laterally extending flangesshaped for detachable engagement with said shell flange, one of saidshield flanges being transversely split to permit snap-on engagementthereof with the shell flange.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HOMER G. KELLOGG.

